Huge data center moves forward in Mesa despite Arizona water concerns
A massive new data center is set to be built in Mesa, Arizona, after the City Council voted in favor of a controversial development agreement.Critics noted that the huge facility would consume millions of gallons of water as the city and state struggle with dwindling supplies.
SEE THIS: https://mesazona.blogspot.com/2021/08/facebook-data-center-formerly-know-as.html
Facebook Data Center ( Formerly Known as "Project Huckleberry" ) = A LARGE WATER CONSUMER
Let's backtrack to one item on the Mesa City Council agenda 17 May 2021
| File #: | 21-0552 |
| Type: | Resolution | Status: | Agenda Ready |
| In control: | City Council |
| On agenda: | 5/17/2021 |
| Title: | Approving and authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Development Agreement and Sustainable Water Service Agreement with Redale LLC, for the development of approximately 396 acres of property generally located at the southeast corner of Elliot and Ellsworth Roads. The Agreements facilitate the phased development of a large data center that will generate economic benefits to the City of Mesa and authorize the development to be a MLM Customer (large water customer) under Title 8, Chapter 10 of the Mesa City Code. (District 6) |
Below is further detail on the new solar energy plants:
West Line Solar, Solar Developer: AES (100 MW)
The first of the new solar plants scheduled to be commercially operational is “West Line Solar.” The 100MW plant will come online in October 2022 and SRP is partnering with The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), a Fortune 500 global energy company, to develop this solar resource which will be located in the city of Eloy, part of Pinal County, Ariz. West Line Solar will be 650 acres in size and construction is set to begin in spring of 2022. . .
Facebook will receive 50MW of solar energy from this solar plant, leaving 50MW of available renewable energy that SRP will offer to residential and small business customers as part of its new solar offerings available later this year.
Randolph Solar Park, Solar Developer: EDP Renewables North America (200 MW)
The next new solar plant to become commercially operational will be “Randolph Solar Park,” which is slated to come online in 2023. SRP is partnering with EDP Renewables, a global leader in renewable energy production, to develop and operate this 200MW solar park located in the city of Coolidge, Ariz., part of Pinal County, adjacent to SRP’s Randolph 230kV substation. Randolph Solar will span across 1,346 acres, and construction is anticipated to begin in fall of 2022 . . .
Facebook will receive the full 200MW of energy from this solar plant.
Valley Farms Solar, Solar Developer: NextEra (200 MW)
The third project, “Valley Farms Solar” is expected to become commercially operational by December 2023.
SRP has contracted with a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and the sun, to develop this 200MW solar plant located in Coolidge, Ariz. The two companies have previously worked together to develop and contract a 20MW solar generation facility and battery storage system, Pinal Central Solar Energy Center, and a 100MW solar plant, Saint Solar, which began operations in 2018 and 2020 respectively.
Additionally, SRP and NextEra have plans to develop two solar-charged battery projects totaling nearly 350MW, Sonoran Energy Center and Storey Energy Center. Valley Farms Solar will be 1,900 acres in size and construction will begin in winter of 2022 . . .
=========================================================================
Huge Land Sale in Pinal County Sets Up Planned 100-Megawatt Solar Project
“This is a desirable location for solar,” Miller said. “We are also working with two other companies looking to do large-scale solar projects in the area.”
Scottsdale-based Saint Holdings sold 1,027 acres to a company called Saint Solar, an entity controlled by Florida Power & Light Co., the principal subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc., according to real estate database Vizzda. The land sold May 15 for $14.8 million, according to Vizzda. . .The solar project is north of the planned $1 billion, 2,000-job manufacturing plant for Nikola Motor Co. and its hydrogen-electric trucks. . .
Mesa gets solar power from SRP
The city of Mesa is now one of 11 customers for Salt River Project receiving solar power from a new facility.
The power is coming from a 100-megawatt plant from Saint Solar that is part of the utility’s increasing efforts to provide its customers with renewable energy.
“The city of Mesa is always looking for ways to be a little greener,” Mesa Mayor John Giles said in a release. “Thanks to SRP’s Sustainable Energy Offering, we’ll be able to tap into our generous Arizona sunshine and add more solar power to our overall energy mix.”
Mesa isn’t the only city to receive power from the plant as Chandler and Phoenix also are part of the distribution. Businesses receiving power include Albertsons Cos. Inc., data centers Cyrus One and Digital Realty, and Mesa Public Schools.
“From the beginning of this process, discussing an innovative energy offering with a diverse group of customers, to now, experiencing how we jointly take a step closer to achieving our renewable energy goals, is something we recognize is extremely impactful,” SRP Associate General Manager and Chief Customer Executive Jim Pratt said in a release.
SRP’s latest renewable energy offering has a total of 33 companies signed up for 300 megawatts of power, of which the Saint Solar facility is part. SRP has a goal to reduce carbon intensity of its operations by 60% by 2035. . .
No comments:
Post a Comment